Evesham man arrested as part of major human trafficking investigation

A 24-YEAR-OLD man from Evesham has been arrested as part of a major human trafficking investigation.

It follows early-morning raids today (Wednesday) across the country in Evesham, Lancashire and Tyne and Wear which saw eight people detained.

Lancashire Police, who led the investigation, said eight women suspected of being trafficked to the UK from Romania for prostitution were rescued during the raids in Blackburn, Preston, Blackpool, Gateshead and Evesham.

The investigation was one of the biggest operations of its kind in the country.

Seven men and one woman were arrested following the raids, which includes the 24-year-old man at a property on St Margaret’s Road, Evesham.

They are now being questioned by detectives on suspicion of conspiring to traffick for sexual exploitation and conspiring to incite prostitution.

Det Insp Mark Vaughton of Lancashire Police said: “Today’s arrests are the latest stage of a long-running proactive investigation by Lancashire Constabulary into the activities of a Romanian organised crime group which we believe has been trafficking women into the country for the purposes of prostitution.

“While this is just the latest phase of this operation today’s activities has seen both a number of people arrested and a number of women rescued from exploitation.

“Modern slavery is not something confined to history, it is still happening today.”

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